Law, religion and the covenanted community: the impact of the Zurich Reformation on the early Cape settlement, 1652-1708
Loading...
Date
2003
Authors
Raath, A. W. G.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State
Abstract
The Zurich Reformation was actively supported by the Dutch East India Company
in its care for the religious, political and legal needs of the early Cape settlement.
Not only the promotion of the Reformed religion by the Classis of Amsterdam but
also the political and legal interests of the settlement were advanced on the basis of
the Zurich reformation and its emphasis on the covenant. It was Huldrych Zwingli
and his successor Heinrich Bullinger whose idea of the covenanted community
served as the blueprint for the activities of the Sick Comforters, the proceedings of
the Council of Justice and the decisions of the Council of Policy, rather than the
influence of the Genevan reformer John Calvin. The so-called Calvinistic roots of
the early settlement at the Cape, flowing from Calvin’s doctrine of predestination,
must therefore, be thoroughly revisited.
Description
Keywords
South African history, 1652-1708, Law & religion, Zwingli, Bullinger
Citation
Raath, A. W. G. (2003). Law, religion and the covenanted community: the impact of the Zurich Reformation on the early Cape settlement, 1652-1708. Acta Theologica, 23(1), 150-174.